Three walkers suffering from hypothermia were rescued in “near storm-force winds” on New Year’s Day after getting into difficulties in Snowdonia .

Volunteers from Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were called out to two separate incidents yesterday on Crib Goch just nine minutes apart – helping five people to safety in total.

At 1.09pm a team member had to call 999 after they spotted two walkers attempting to descend Crib Goch, which stands at 3,028ft, on the Pyg track.

However, one walker slipped and fell a “significant distance” while the other got into difficulties descending the “dangerous” and technical ground.

Fortunately, neither were seriously hurt.

The summit of Snowdon, including Crib Goch and Llyn Llydaw

Gruff Owen of Llanberis MRT said: “The walker who fell sustained only minor injuries and was able to walk down to the Warden centre at Pen y Pass. The second walker was lucky not to fall and was able to successfully descend to a point where our team member could assist him to an awaiting team Land Rover.”

Crib Goch, which means Red Ridge in Welsh, is the 14th highest peak in Snowdonia and is one of the most challenging to trek in the region and has been the site of many accidents.

Just minutes after the first incident was called in the team received two more calls at 1.18pm and 1.40pm about a group of three walkers who were struggling on the north ridge of Crib Goch.

The party of three had climbed the east ridge before attempting to descend the north ridge, but got into difficulties due to snow and ice –with one falling more than 160ft.

The incident sparked a eight-man search for the stricken trio.

Gruff said: “We were first alerted by the snow-fast pair on the North ridge before being called by the walker who had fallen.

“Eight team members were deployed onto the mountain to find and recover the separated group.

“Fortunately, the fallen walker was able to walk down to a point where team members could assist him to the team vehicles. The team then searched the East ridge and North ridge to locate the remaining two walkers.